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July 24, 2017

Izumi- Died 2017

Izumi was moved to Thailand as a 2-year-old baby and brought to the Kiryugaoka Amusement Park Zoo in Japan in 1964. She went on to spend the rest of her life ALONE at this zoo: 53 years. Izumi died in April 2017 at the age of (estimated) 61 years and 11 months. The zoo is investigating the cause of her death.

With Izumi’s death in April 2017, the zoo should close its elephant exhibit. 

 

Find out how you can start helping other solitary elephants in Japan HERE. 

 

 

Izumi stands alone in her barren enclosure, a few months before her death. She spent over 50 years here like this. 

July 24, 2017

Merry – Died 2016

Merry the elephant was brought to Ikeda zoo in Okayama, Japan when she was just 2 years old. She spent her ENTIRE LIFE ALONE here: 50 years. She died from (reported illness due to poor foot health) in February 2016.

The zoo tried to get another elephant but has faced some “difficulty” according to staff. This is an unacceptably small and stark enclosure for elephants.

Bottom line: This zoo should not get anymore elephants.

 

Find out how you can start helping other solitary elephants in Japan HERE. 

The unbelievably stark elephant enclosure where Merry lived alone for 50 years.

 

July 24, 2017

Hiroko – Died 2018

Hiroko the elephant had been alone at the Tennoji Zoo in Japan for over 9 years since the death of her companion Haruko in 2014.

When the elephant biologist Dr. Keith Lindsay observed Hiroko in Feb 2017, he noted that her mental state did not seem good. Hiroko appeared listless and spent a lot of time swaying continuously—a common stress-coping behavior seen in captive animals in poor conditions.

Update

According to news reports, since the summer of 2017, the swelling in her two front legs had worsened, making it difficult for her to walk. Allegedly, although medicine was applied, Hiroko would wipe it off with her nose – rendering it ineffective. In late January, she stopped coming out of her indoor enclosure, and was soon unable to get up. A couple of days later, on January 25, she was reportedly passed away “as if sleeping.”

A sign on her enclosure suggested bullhooks and whips were used in her handling.

 

SIGN & SHARE our NEW petition urging the Tennoji Zoo to close down their elephant exhibit in the wake of footage released in 2022 showing how Hiroko suffered during her final days before she collapsed and died: HERE. 

 

 

July 24, 2017

Mary – Died 2021

Mary the elephant has been alone at the Tokushima City Zoo in Japan for 12 years since the death of her companion. Mary seems to have pain in her back leg and has legions all over her skin—probably from rubbing against the walls of her stall.

 

Despite her pain, when her keepers feed her, they force her to sit down in her cage for 30 seconds—a demonstration of their control. Mary is kept indoors for most of the day (approx. 18 hours) in her tiny indoor stall. She copes with her stress by continuously rocking her body back and forth.

Find out more ways you can start helping Mary and the other solitary elephants HERE. 

Update:

Mary has died aged only 31 years on July 23, 2021. In their statement, the zoo mentions the loss of appetite a few days prior to her death which is still under investigation.

 

 

July 24, 2017

Hanako – Died 2017

Hanako was born in the wild in 1971, and brought to the Fukuoka City Zoo when she was just 2 years old. At her death, she’d been alone 5 years since the death of her companion. In the last few years, she’d been unable to get up after laying down and had to be lifted up by winches. She slept standing up. 

Hanako was kept indoors for most of the day (approx. 18 hours) in her tiny indoor stall. She was shown to cope with her stress by continuously rocking her body back and forth.

According to reports, her health took a turn for the worst on the evening of September 27, 2017, and she died soon after. Hanako’s her long, lonely and tragic life in captivity is is over – and she no longer has to suffer.

There are still over a dozen solitary elephants living in similar dire conditions across Japan (and around the world). We need to speak out for them, before it is too late. You can stay up to date on our efforts, by liking or following our Facebook page. 

 

Find out how you can start helping the solitary elephants:  HERE.